ISLAMABAD: Faisalabad Special Court Judge Malik Muhammad Ashfaq granted a five-day physical remand for 87 suspects, including 18 women, allegedly involved in a large-scale cybercrime operation.
Meanwhile, 62 others were sent to district jail on a 14-day judicial remand, following a request by the National Cybercrime Investigation Agency (NCCIA).
A total of 149 individuals — including 48 Chinese nationals, other foreigners, and Pakistani citizens — were arrested during a raid conducted by the NCCIA at a facility in Chak 54 RB, Sirohli. The site belonged to Malik Tehseen Awan, former chairman of Faisalabad Electric Supply Company’s (FESCO) Board of Directors.
The suspects were brought to court under strict security arrangements. The court approved NCCIA’s plea for physical remand of 87 individuals to facilitate interrogation in connection with a massive online scam involving various Ponzi schemes that defrauded the public of millions of rupees.
The remaining 62 suspects were sent on judicial remand to jail for 14 days.
The alleged mastermind of the operation, Malik Tehseen Awan, reportedly fled during the NCCIA raid. He has been nominated in seven FIRs. Efforts to trace and arrest him are ongoing. The Faisalabad NCCIA chief has formally requested the director of the Integrated Border Management System under the National Response Centre for Cybercrimes to place Awan’s name on the Provisional National Identification List to prevent his escape from the country.
Human Trafficking Arrest:
Separately, an FIA team arrested a man named Farrukh Nazir Nakodria on Wednesday in Chak 126/15-L, Mianchannu, for allegedly scamming people under the pretense of arranging employment in Saudi Arabia. According to officials, the suspect had previously escaped to KSA after collecting millions of rupees from victims.
Art Workshop at UAF:
In another event, Dr Shazia Ramzan, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities at the University of Faisalabad (UAF), emphasized the importance of nurturing artistic skills among youth. Speaking at a painting workshop organized by the Department of Art and Design, she highlighted how art enables students to view the world from a deeper perspective and creatively express real issues and beauty through their work.
